Be Ready

v7 - The end of all things is at hand...

Review - 1 Peter 3:8-17

Caused us to be born again

Called us to Holiness

Called us to follow Jesus’ example

Be Prepared to make a defense

Jesus Suffered - 1 Peter 3:18-22

Jesus in the Spirit preached

Resurrected Jesus proclaims His finished work

Preaching in His Spirit

2 Peter 2:5 ESV

if he did not spare the ancient world, but preserved Noah, a herald of righteousness, with seven others, when he brought a flood upon the world of the ungodly;

Baptism saves you

not the act of the water

Noah was not saved by the water, but through it

saves not always born again

appeal for a good conscience (v15-16)

Believers without baptism are not fulfilling their calling

an appeal through the resurrection; believing baptism = profession in resurrection

Why and For Whom?

2 Corinthians 5:21 ESV

For our sake he made him to be sin who knew no sin, so that in him we might become the righteousness of God.

Mark 2:17 ESV

And when Jesus heard it, he said to them, “Those who are well have no need of a physician, but those who are sick. I came not to call the righteous, but sinners.”

John 1:29 ESV

The next day he saw Jesus coming toward him, and said, “Behold, the Lamb of God, who takes away the sin of the world!

Creation Suffers

Romans 8:19–23 ESV

For the creation waits with eager longing for the revealing of the sons of God. For the creation was subjected to futility, not willingly, but because of him who subjected it, in hope that the creation itself will be set free from its bondage to corruption and obtain the freedom of the glory of the children of God. For we know that the whole creation has been groaning together in the pains of childbirth until now. And not only the creation, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for adoption as sons, the redemption of our bodies.

Suffering Justly - 1 Peter 4:1-6

Christianity is NOT getting out of responsibility for your own actions and choices

God has NOT promised to always protect you from yourself

2 Samuel 12:10 ESV

Now therefore the sword shall never depart from your house, because you have despised me and have taken the wife of Uriah the Hittite to be your wife.’

Jonah 4:8–10 ESV

When the sun rose, God appointed a scorching east wind, and the sun beat down on the head of Jonah so that he was faint. And he asked that he might die and said, “It is better for me to die than to live.” But God said to Jonah, “Do you do well to be angry for the plant?” And he said, “Yes, I do well to be angry, angry enough to die.” And the Lord said, “You pity the plant, for which you did not labor, nor did you make it grow, which came into being in a night and perished in a night.

Acts 5 - Annanias & Saphira

1 Corinthians 11:29–30 ESV

For anyone who eats and drinks without discerning the body eats and drinks judgment on himself. That is why many of you are weak and ill, and some have died.

Suffering Unjustly - 1 Peter 4:12-19

Do NOT be surprised

Rejoice

No shame

It is time

It is a witness

The end of all things is at hand; we are living in the last days. We must be prepared to meet our God either in death or at the return of Christ. We must also be prepared to LIVE in this time as faithful witnesses, loving one another, and expecting to suffer well.